Tuesday, June 30, 2009

We were able to have a lovely journey to London, England to join Robin’s daughter, Jennifer and Milo the 5 year old Grandson. We were Granny/Nannies for Milo while Jennifer worked for the week at the University of London. As one of our friends, Cyndee, said before we left, “have a Big Ben of a time” and we did! Here is Big Ben plus part of the immense House of Parliament.

We bought a pass for the “tube” and travelling all over town was a great success. What a wonderful way to move lots of people – so sad we have only a few services like that in the states. Very efficient and easy! Tina and I dragged little Milo around to all the “required” spots to see in London and he never complained once after hours and hours of touring the sites.

Unfortunately the Queen must have been busy while we were in town and didn’t have us call on her but we did get a look at Buckingham Palace, her downtown office. Quite a site with so much traffic, tourists and regular folks all around!

Not nearly as beautiful a spot as when first completed in the 1800’s for Queen Victoria, the first Monarch to live there. Gone are the beautiful gardens surrounding the palace. There still are some across the way in a formal garden we walked around.

More of the travel log soon! Great to go away and wonderful to come home again…..Robin

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

She is now feeling quite sorry for herself after a bath at 3:30 this morning. I’m not too thrilled either! She protected us from the little black and white kitty but has really smelled up my bedroom!

To prove how bad she felt, she couldn’t even enjoy her morning dog biscuit until a couple of hours had passed since her bath. The jury is still out whether her nifty purple collar can be saved! Luckily she heads to the groomer tomorrow morning and maybe they have a magic potion to fix her up again.

Stars 'n Stripes Forever

Decorate your table top with a great patriotic table rug with Red, White & Blue, too. This stylized flag will add lots to your summer dinners on the deck or patio. Remember the 4th of July is coming soon, too. Get ready to celebrate and PARTY!

The stars are reverse appliqué - just cut out the top layer of navy blue and let the white underneath show through. Use the cut out stars in the center of your "flag stripes" - nice! Add simple embroidery stitches that add texture and interest to your creation. Wool is always so wonderful to work with.

I missed posting the new Freebie tea towel for Flag Day by 2 days but it can be stitched up in plenty of time for the 4th of July!

Red, White and Blue Perle cotton make the patriotic Summer Fireworks design come to life. Embroidery the towel in just an afternoon or an evening, it is quick to complete. Use the cheerful towel for the summer kitchen clean up and tuck it in your picnic basket for your 4th of July celebration.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

We just came upon some more small vintage bobbins that are the same as several I have in my own collection...found over the years.

These wonderful small 4" tall antique bobbins are great to hold your scissors, organize your collection of ribbons and lace or decorate your table with several holding slim candles. The top and bottom are 3" in diameter with a pretty wood center....nice! For one week we offer our new discovery at a special price (25% off) for you to add them to your needlework collection.

Order right away!

Pretty Summer Baskets

We still have a few sets of our NEW trio of really pretty silk lined baskets from Vietnam to hold your summer stitching. They are completely lined with an iridescent silk and the top has a draw string of matching silk cord ending in a charming crocheted ball (my favorite part!).

The sewing baskets are produced by an education and income generating project by family owned enterprises to revive the traditional cultural handicrafts of Vietnam. Beautiful and useful, too.

As an introduction to our Stitching Accessories, enjoy a special price to own one, two or all three of these beauties.

Friday, June 5, 2009

My garden is calling me to come and play in the dirt today and throughout the weekend....I just love enjoying all the flowers and even yanking out those pesky weeks.

In case you want to garden and NOT GET DIRTY, sit by a window and look at your garden while you embroider a garden design. My Heart is in My Garden and yours maybe too. Stitch in GreenWork and make a pretty fabric framed sampler.

Spring Garden RedWork

It still feels like spring in some parts of the country and our Spring Garden RedWork collection of embroidery designs is a great way to do your gardening in comfort - inside! Make some lovely gifts for your garden gal pals and for you too. Wouldn't the pillow look great on a porch swing all summer long!

Silk Lined Baskets

It feels like summer is here - our weather is beautiful! We have a NEW trio of really pretty sewing baskets from Vietnam to hold your stitching accessories. They are completely lined with an iridescent silk and the top has a draw string of matching silk cord ending in a charming crocheted ball (my favorite part!).

The baskets are produced by an education and income generating project by family owned enterprises to revive the traditional cultural handicrafts of Vietnam. Beautiful and useful, too.

As an introduction to our Stitching Accessories, enjoy a special price to own one, two or all three of these beauties. We have a limited number of the baskets so don't get left out!

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Of course we always find the time to do a little shopping on our trips. We stopped at the Painted Desert Indian Center full of beautiful Native American jewelry and other goodies. Tina found a really pretty pair of earrings that came home with her.

Around the Indian Center we found teepees and our new friend, a Wichol Indian fellow who asked us to take his picture with his camera and then we used our camera too. The Wichol Indians create the most wonderful beaded designs on bowls, baskets and even animal shapes to decorate your home. Other super teepees were scattered all around the store. Tina’s ranch would look great with a couple of these to use as a “guest house” along the edge of the Goose Feather Pond! We look forward to heading back to the southwest in October for the Quilt, Craft and Sewing Fest in Tucson. Lots more touring and fun while we “work”.

Back to work designing some new stuff for fall and Christmas. A great job we have!

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

It feels like summer is here - our weather is beautiful! We have a NEW trio of really pretty silk lined baskets from Vietnam to hold your summer stitching. They are completely lined with an iridescent silk and the top has a draw string of matching silk cord ending in a charming crocheted ball (my favorite part!).

The baskets are produced by an education and income generating project by family owned enterprises to revive the traditional cultural handicrafts of Vietnam. Beautiful and useful, too.

As an introduction to our Stitching Accessories, enjoy a special price to own one, two or all three of these beauties. We have a limited number of the baskets so don't get left out!

Monday, June 1, 2009

Finally, I am back to chatting with you on our blog. No excuses…just lazy I guess. Tina, the pooches and I had a great trip to New Mexico and the Fiber Fiesta. We did a lot of stopping along the way to stretch our legs and give the dogs a potty break.

We always leave I-5 and head towards Bakersfield along a back road. This longhorn family is one of our traditional stops…..sadly, this year their field was empty! Dad has HUGE horns at least dinner plate sized and Mom is a little daintier with maybe a luncheon sized horns. Each year their child is little until our next visit….whew, big critters. We will plan more time next trip in July to stop and knock on the door and ask where our buddies have been moved.

We always select some memorable “campsites” on our trips. Here we are in Arizona staying at a ranch road exit on I-40. It is always quiet, sometimes secluded and we have no one but coyotes and an occasional prairie dog to visit us.

In New Mexico near Albuquerque, we visited El Malpais (The Badlands) Sandstone bluffs while hunting up our nesting spot for the night. The bluffs are 138 million years old, much older than I am! The valley below is covered with volcanic rock that is a mere 100,000 years old. Very beautiful, rugged and impressive, we want to visit again. Tina and I found some great rocks we would have loved to bring home for our gardens.

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About Me

I have been stitching for ever it seems....just loving every moment of it! Needlework has become my livlihood now as it once was my hobby. How lucky I am to have such a wonderful "job" I am so passionate about. Bird Brain Designs is the result of all this designing and stitching all these years.